The shelf-life of miracles -- The letter -- Last chance, Nebraska -- The ghost in the window -- A million shades of black -- Father dream -- First days in the silver palace -- Auntie -- Summer storms -- When I was a boy -- The September I turned twelve again -- The gamblers -- Frying shrimp -- Dragon chica -- Silent people -- Red lobster -- St. Agnes -- The first day -- The churning of the sea -- Saving Sourdi -- Super 8 -- Giving in to the ghost -- Duke -- Our town -- Ang Kor Wat of Des Moines -- Sourdi's story -- The belly of the prairie

The shelf-life of miracles -- The letter -- Last chance, Nebraska -- The ghost in the window -- A million shades of black -- Father dream -- First days in the silver palace -- Auntie -- Summer storms -- When I was a boy -- The September I turned twelve again -- The gamblers -- Frying shrimp -- Dragon chica -- Silent people -- Red lobster -- St. Agnes -- The first day -- The churning of the sea -- Saving Sourdi -- Super 8 -- Giving in to the ghost -- Duke -- Our town -- Ang Kor Wat of Des Moines -- Sourdi's story -- The belly of the prairie